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In 2022, DC Comics announced that Connor Hawke is asexual. Many have speculated about the orientation of the second Green Arrow which was confirmed for DC Pride. Though the inclusion of asexual characters in the media is growing, for years people on the ace spectrum have looked for icons, characters and role models who can help explain this orientation and make them feel less alone.
While asexuality is still an underrepresented orientation in the media, comics have often done a better job of portraying asexual characters. Unfortunately, their aspec orientations are often ignored and forgotten when creating television and movie adaptations of comic book stories. However, these asexual characters still exist and are undoubtedly iconic.
10 Diane – Lumberjanes
Though aimed for ages 8 and up, Lumberjanes is a comic series from Boom! Studios that’s an important read for all ages and has been applauded for its positive representation of LGBTQ+ teens. Spending an incredibly long summer at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, the characters explore friendship and their own identities.
Initially an antagonist, Diane (aka the Greek goddess Artemis) leaves Mount Olympus to become a camper and is revealed in issue #68 to be homoromantic asexual. She even enters a romantic relationship with her cabin mate Hes. In a short but sweet moment of representation with a relationship that continues in the last few issues, Diane shows the importance of ace representation in young people’s literature.
9 Yelena Belova – Marvel Comics
Yelena Belova is an iconic Marvel Comics character who like the original Black Widow character, Natasha Romanova, was trained to be a spy and assassin by the Red Room. In 2021, Yelena Belova’s creator Devin K. Grayson confirmed that the character is asexual and aromantic but because of Russia’s persecution of the LGBTQ+ community, Yelena “may not have been exposed to terms like ‘ACE’ and ‘ARO’.”
While an incredible moment for asexual representation, Yelena’s orientation has yet to actually be discussed in the comics further than she’s “not anything” when it comes to sexual identity. Nevertheless, fans are ecstatic to see such an incredible and strong woman being identified as ace/aro and hope to see it explored further through Florence Pugh’s portrayal in the MCU.
8 Gwendolyn “Gwen” Poole – Marvel Comics
Created in 2015, Unbelievable Gwenpool follows a girl transported from this reality of readers to the Marvel Universe and is an amalgamation of Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man and Wade Wilson as Deadpool. While the solo series shows Gwen has no interest in physical relationships, her first appearance depicted her as graysexual and entering a relationship with Quentin Quire.
However, Gwen later admits in the metafictional narrative of West Coast Avengers that she wanted to be less of a supporting character and thought a romantic relationship with Kid Omega would mean she’d be less likely to be killed off. Gwenpool is hilarious and underappreciated superhero who represents the avid readers of Marvel and deserves further exploration of her character.
7 Jughead Jones – Archie Comics
In Jughead’s 2016 solo comics by Chip Zdarsky and Erica Henderson, the beloved Archie Comics character was confirmed to be asexual. Created in 1941, Jughead was not always canonically ace but was often portrayed as demiromantic, given his disinterest in relationships. Jughead’s asexuality remains true to the character, who often preferred burgers to dating.
One of the biggest missteps in asexual representation was the live-action adaptation’s decision to erase Jughead’s confirmed asexuality and push the character into relationships with Betty Cooper and Tabitha Tate in later seasons. Even actor Cole Sprouse wanted his character to be portrayed as ace/aro in Riverdale (via Glamour) but despite outcry from the asexual community, Riverdale erased this part of Jughead’s identity.
6 Nadia Van Dyne/ The Wasp – Marvel Comics
After escaping the Red Room, Nadia (the surrogate child of Janet van Dyne) starts the program Genius In Action Research Labs (G.I.R.L.) to find women with genius intellects after S.H.I.E.L.D.’s index of the most intelligent people doesn’t list any women above 27th place. Not only does this remarkable character include representation of bipolar disorder inherited from her father Hank Pym, but she is also on the asexual spectrum.
The series briefly discusses Nadia’s disinterest in “teenage stuff” when she tells Edwin Jarvis that she’ll let him know if she becomes “more interested in kissing someone than quantum physics”. However, in 2020 Sam Maggs (author of The Unstoppable Wasp: Built On Hope) confirmed during a book festival livestream that Nadia is ace, which fans hope to see explored further in other Marvel comics.
5 Alix – Sex Criminals
Chip Zdarsky’s Sex Criminals explores the adventures of Jon and Suzie who realize that they gain the power to freeze time when they orgasm. During a break from their stories, Alix is introduced in issues #13. Though she had an abusive stepfather and experiences as an asexual teenager who felt pressured to have sex, Alix is not portrayed as broken.
Like the main characters, Alix also has the ability to freeze time but through the adrenaline rush of BASE jumping. This frozen-time world is referred to as “The Quiet” which Alix uses as an escape. With hilarious quips and heartbreaking backstories, Alix is a memorable character in this series whose ability to freeze time outside of sex raises questions about what exactly “The Quiet” is.
4 Roshanna Chatterji/Tremor – DC Comics
A lesser-known but greatly admired superhero in the asexual community is Roshanna Chatterji, aka Tremor. Featuring in The Movement comic book series from 2013-2014, Tremor was the first openly asexual character in DC comics. Born in India, Chatterji discovered powers of geokinesis which led to people calling her a witch.
After moving to the US, she is targeted by Amanda Waller to infiltrate The Movement, a collection of misfits unhappy with the city’s corruption. In issue #10 when her Movement teammate Mouse has feelings for her, she tells him that she’s asexual. An incredible moment for asexual representation in comic books, fans only hope to see Tremor again in her own series further exploring her past and identity.
3 Dionysus – The Wicked + The Divine
As one of the best LGBTQ+ comics that’s neither Marvel nor DC, The Wicked + The Divine explores a world where every 90 years, 12 gods are reincarnated as regular people. Influenced by pop culture and various mythological deitites, this Image Comic story has been recognized for its diverse representation of ethnicity, gender social roles, and sexuality which includes an asexual character.
Known as Umar and Dionysus, this Greek god of winemaking is confirmed as asexual in issue #26. However, he still feels romantic attraction having been the former lover of Lucifer and a romantic interest in Cassandra/Urdr, the Norse goddess of past and fate. Concluded in 2019, fans are eagerly waiting for the TV adaptation that will hopefully highlight Dionysus/Umar’s asexuality increasing his iconic status.
2 Laojun – Lanxi Zhen
Lanxi Zhen also known as Lanxi Town or Blue Creek Town is an ongoing spinoff prequel webcomic to The Legend Of Luo Xiaohei webseries. It is an underrated series but finds its footing online and in the asexual community when its lead character, the immortal elfin Laojun comes out as asexual in chapter 48.
While they don’t use the terminology as it is set in a world of elves and demons, Laojun explains to his apprentice Qingning that he “can experience the emotions of falling in love using telepathic empathy” but has “never known” it himself. Fans immediately recognize this as Laojun as being ace/aro and are thrilled with the representation. As the series continues, his status as an asexual icon will only grow.
1 Connor Hawke – DC Comics
Among many LGBTQ+ heroes who should join the DCEU is Connor Hawke, aka Green Arrow. As the son of the original Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, Connor is also an expert archer and in DC Pride 2022 anthology is confirmed to be asexual. Fans have interpreted Connor’s orientation as ace for decades after the character has avoided sexual moments.
Another major milestone for asexual representation, Connor writes a letter to his mother about coming out as asexual and learning to be “proud of who” he is. Hawke’s story ‘Think Of Me’ in DC Pride is a landmark moment as the entire team behind the story is also ace-indetifying so not only canonizing an asexual character but also elevating the voices of asexual creators.
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